Iraq Plans to Send 10,000 Students to Colleges in U.S., Abroad

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says his country plans to send up to 10,000 Iraqi students a year to colleges in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia over the next five years as a part of a new scholarship program.

Al-Maliki says stability in Iraq has allowed the country to focus on education after years of war.

He says there's great ambition behind the new program "because our needs are great."

The Iraqi government is funding the scholarship program. It will allow students to earn bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees.

The country plans to start with about 500 students in U.S. and British schools this fall.